If you recently created your Apple ID, My Photo Stream might not be available. If My Photo Stream isn't available, use iCloud Photos to keep your photos and videos in iCloud.

How My Photo Stream works with iCloud Photos

My Photo Stream uploads your most recent photos (except Live Photos) so that you can view and import them to all of your devices. Photos are stored in My Photo Stream for 30 days. iCloud Photos uploads all of your photos and videos to iCloud and keeps them up to date across your devices.

If you turn on both My Photo Stream and iCloud Photos on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, photos that you take with that device upload to both iCloud Photos and My Photo Stream.

If you use another device with the same Apple ID that has only My Photo Stream turned on, photos that you take on that device upload only to My Photo Stream. They don't appear on any devices that have only iCloud Photos enabled.

Windows PC

When you turn on Photos, iCloud for Windows creates a Photos folder in File Explorer called iCloud Photos. My Photo Stream automatically downloads any new photos that you take on your iOS devices to the Downloads folder.

You can also use these steps to see your photos on your PC:

Windows 10: Enter iCloud Photos in the Search the web and Windows bar. When you see iCloud Photos - Desktop app in the search results, select it.

Photo formats that you can use with My Photo Stream

Delete photos from My Photo Stream

Select one or more photos from My Photo Stream on your iOS device or Mac, then tap or click Delete.

On your PC, select the photos that you want to remove from My Photo Stream. Right-click, then select Delete.

When you delete a photo from My Photo Stream on one device, the photo is removed from Photos and iCloud. The photos that you import from My Photo Stream to your other devices won’t be deleted.

Frequently asked questions about My Photo Stream

Find answers to your questions below.

Can I use My Photo Stream to back up my photos instead of iCloud Backup or iTunes?

No. Photos in My Photo Stream are saved on the iCloud server for 30 days. After that, the photos are removed from iCloud. To save or back up these photos, you must save them from My Photo Stream to your iOS device. Here's how: On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, open Photos and tap Albums > My Photo Stream > Select. Tap the photos that you want to save, then tap > Save Image. Then you can back up your photos with iCloud or iTunes.

What resolution are My Photo Stream photos?

On a Mac or PC, your photos are downloaded and stored in full resolution. On iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple TV, your photos are delivered in a device-optimized resolution that speeds downloads and saves storage space.

Dimensions vary, but an optimized version of a photo taken by a standard point-and-shoot camera will have a 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution when pushed to your devices. Panoramic photos can be up to 5400 pixels wide.

When do my photos upload to My Photo Stream?

Photos that you take on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch automatically upload to My Photo Stream when you leave the Camera app and connect to Wi-Fi. And new photos that you import on your Mac to the Photos app automatically upload when you connect to Wi-Fi or Ethernet. You can change your preferences so that only photos you manually add to My Photo Stream upload.

To upload photos to My Photo Stream on your PC, follow these steps:

Click the Windows Start button, then click Pictures.

Select iCloud Photos under the Favorites menu in the panel on the left.

Click Upload photos.

Select the photos you want to add to My Photo Stream, then click Open.

You can also drag and drop photos from your PC into the Uploads folder in iCloud Photos.

How many photos can My Photo Stream store?

To save storage space, your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch keep your most recent 1000 photos in the My Photo Stream album. From My Photo Stream, you can browse your photos or move the ones you like to another album to keep them on your iOS device forever. And if your Apple TV has limited storage, you'll see only your most recent photos.

You can choose to download all of your photos from My Photo Stream to your Mac and PC automatically.

Open Photos and go to Preferences > General. Select Copy items to the Photos library.

Does My Photo Stream use my iCloud storage?

Where are my burst mode photos in My Photo Stream?

When you take photos with burst mode, only your favorite photos import to your device. You can choose to save all photos you take with burst mode to My Photo Stream: tap Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos and turn on Upload Burst Photos.

The photos from My Photo Stream on your other devices aren't affected. Photos from My Photo Stream stay on the iCloud server for 30 days from the date you upload them to My Photo Stream. If you sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID and turn on My Photo Stream on another device, the photos automatically download.

Learn more

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Risks are inherent in the use of the Internet. Contact the vendor for additional information. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.